Reporting Changes is Your Responsibility
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 6, 2023
If you receive benefits from Social Security, you have a legal obligation to report changes, which could affect your eligibility for disability, retirement, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. You must report any changes that may affect your benefits immediately, and no later than 10 days after the end of the month in which the change occurred.
Changes you need to report range from a change of address to traveling outside the United States for 30 consecutive days. To get a list of reporting responsibilities under disability, please read our publication, What You Need to Know When You get Social Security Disability Benefits, and for SSI, read What You Need to Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income. If you’re receiving retirement benefits, What You Need to Know When You Get Retirement or Survivors Benefits is also helpful.
Life changes can affect your benefits. You may be due additional payments, or you may be overpaid and have to pay us back because you didn’t report the overpayment in a timely manner. The SSI program may apply a penalty that will reduce your benefits if you fail to report a change, or if you reported the change later than 10 days after the end of the month in which the change occurred. If you fail to report changes in a timely way, or if you intentionally make a false statement, we may stop your SSI, disability, and retirement benefits. We may also impose a sanction against your payments. The first sanction is a loss of payments for six months. Subsequent sanctions are for 12 and 24 months.
You can report your change online, or by calling toll free at 1-800-772-1213. If you’re deaf or hearing-impaired call TTY 1-800-325-0778. Mail the information to your local Social Security office or in person if you prefer. If you receive SSI, you should ask about our options to use the automated toll-free SSI Telephone Wage Reporting Service or the free SSA Mobile Wage Reporting app.
If you receive benefits and need to change your address or direct deposit, you can conveniently do so by creating a personal my Social Security account.
Get the right check, in the right amount, at the right time, by reporting changes right away!
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Tags: retirement benefits, SSI, supplemental security income, survivors benefits
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Doug Walker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Deputy Commissioner, Office of Communications
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debbie j.
how to change my routing number on ss checks
CONNER
HOW DO I CHANGE MY E-MAIL ADDRESS
V.V.
Hi Conner, thanks for your question. After signing into your my Social Security account, you can update your email address. Just click on “Update Email Address” at the bottom of the home page. If your email address is used as your second level of authentication, click on the button indicating it is no longer valid and must be changed.
For assistance with your account, you may:
•Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or
•Contact your local Social Security office.
Melissa L.
If a person lives with someone and is wanting to move into their own housing will their benefits go up once they move out on there on. They receive SSI
R.F.
Hello Melissa. The SSI benefit amount we pay you is affected by your income, resources, and living arrangements. Your local office will conduct a “Redetermination” when you report the change to make sure that you are getting the right amount of SSI benefits. Thanks!
Barbara Q.
Need to up date iinformation.
R.F.
Hello Barbara. From applying for benefits to obtaining your Social Security Statement, find out about all the useful services we provide that are at your fingertips by visiting “What You Can Do Online“.
You can speak to one of our agents by calling our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day or later in the week. Thanks.
MARTHA B.
I was not able on this website to find the place where I could enter the informtion on change that NO LONGER WORKING AS OF END OF 2017
The link on this page entitled “Reporting Changes is your Responsibility” led back to home page, and there was a place for change of address, but NO OTHER CHANGE BOX OR LINE
R.F.
Hello Martha. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day or later in the week. Thanks!
David S.
How do I change my mailing address?
V.V.
Hi David. If you get Social Security benefits (retirement, survivors, or disability) or are enrolled in Medicare, you can create a my Social Security account to change your address online.
If you get SSI, do not have a U.S. mailing address, or are unable to change your address online, you can:
•Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; or
•Contact your local Social Security office.
If you do not receive Social Security benefits, SSI or Medicare, you do not need to change your address with us.
Richard P.
Richard Partlow is using his SSI for alcohol n drugs like weed n stuff. The address is no longer his mom’s it is on North Purdum n he is also never reported that he worked the whole time he was on ssi
R.F.
If you suspect someone of committing fraud, waste, or abuse against Social Security, we encourage you to report it. Thanks!
Donna C.
I noticed that my 2005/2006 earnings does not seem correct, and I did not see any W2 in my 2006 tax return showing wages for 2006. I visited the SSA office here, and was told if I can find a missing W2 to bring it in–however, as you recall Hurricane Katrina struck in aug. 2005– we were homeless and evacuated in 2006, and the company I worked for went out of business following the devastation of the storm. I do remember working remotely from where I was evacuated to finish the 2005 year, but I think I received commission on 2005 sales in 2006–because it was all so insane then, for many months, when we filed our 2005 and 2006 returns, I think it was not at the regular times, as we were given more time due to the lost files, etc. How do I track down my W2 from 2006 or 2007 if there are any? Is it possible the company did not report and/or pay the taxes due to the storm???
nils w.
I need to just change my bank account number only nothing else has changed
R.F.
If you already receive benefits (retirement, survivors, or disability) and you have a bank account, you can update your direct deposit information, by using your personal my Social Security account. Thanks!
Diane L.
I would like to change my address as I moved recently.
R.F.
Hello Diane. If you get Social Security benefits (retirement, survivors, or disability) or are enrolled in Medicare, you can change your address online by using your personal my Social Security account. Thanks!